Orange County SC defeated FC Tulsa 1-0 in a closely contested contest on Saturday, March 30 at Championship Stadium in Irvine, CA. The lone goal of the match came from OCSC midfielder Sofiane Djeffal in the 27th minute. With the win, OCSC remains in a tie for first place atop the USL Championship Western Conference standings.
Orange County SC had the first chance of the night in the third minute as defender Owen Lambe found Djeffal just outside the box. The Frenchman fired a shot with his right foot that was deflected out of play by FC Tulsa goalkeeper Michael Creek.
The Black and Orange continued forcing pressure on the attacking half as they had two chances from outside the box. Forward Cameron Dunbar fired one from long range in the 21st minute that missed just wide and midfielder Ashish Chattha curled a shot over the bar in the 23rd minute.
The home team finally broke through in the 27th minute as Djeffal found some space outside the center of the box. He curled one in with the right foot that was tipped by Creek and trickled its way into the net, sending The Champ into a frenzy and OCSC went ahead 1-0.
FC Tulsa had their first major chance of the first half in the 44th minute as defender Patrick Seagrist sent a left-footed-shot from outside the box on frame that was saved by Shutler, sending OCSC into the half with a 1-0 advantage.
Orange County kept on the attacking front in the 50th minute as midfielder Kevin Partida found Dunbar on the left side of the box. Dunbar played one towards goal that was narrowly tipped over the crossbar by Creek.
Shutler recorded his second save of the night off a set piece from FC Tulsa in the 55th minute. Midfielder Camilo Ponce sent in a cross that caught the foot of midfielder Boubacar Diallo. Diallo forced a left-footed-shot from the left side of the box that was saved in the top center of the goal by Shutler.
Orange County continued to apply pressure in the 60th minute as substitute forward Ethan Zubak found himself with some space on the right side of the box. Zubak crossed one towards a streaking Dunbar who barely got a head to it, as the ball trickled just wide left of the goal.
FC Tulsa had one final stand in the fourth minute of stoppage time as substitute midfielder Nathan Worth connected on a header in the center of the box off a cross from substitute midfielder Harvey St. Claire that drifted just wide of the post, and OCSC held on for all three points.
OCSC heads on the road next Saturday, April 6th when they face Memphis 901 FC, but they will return home to Championship Stadium on Saturday, April 20, when they host Sacramento Republic FC at 7:00 PM for Gnarly’s Birthday Party! Grab your tickets here today!
MILESTONES AND FACTS:
With the shutout victory tonight, OCSC goalkeeper Colin Shutler surpassed Patrick Rakovsky for the all time leader in clean sheets (14) and wins (19) in club history.
Midfielder Brian Iloski played in his 100th match in an Orange County SC shirt, tying the club record for appearances (Michael Orozco, 100).
Defender Charlie Asensio made his OCSC debut tonight.
Midfielder Sofiane Djeffal scored his first goal of the season.
| TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
| TUL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OCSC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
27’ Sofiane Djeffal (OCSC)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
41’ Ashish Chattha
56’ Owen Lambe
68’ Brian Iloski
FC TULSA
31’ Justin Portillo
36’ Boubacar Diallo
45+4’ Camilo Ponce
49’ Patrick Seagrist
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Colin Shutler (GK); Charlie Asensio (Ethan Zubak 45’), Andrew Fox, Ashton Miles, Owen Lambe; Kevin Partida (C), Sofiane Djeffal, Brian Iloski (Kyle Scott 85’), Ashish Chattha; Thomas Amang, Cameron Dunbar (Bryce Jamison 77’)
Unused subs: Duran Ferree (GK), Ryan Ayoub, Ben Barjolo, Ben Norris
Head Coach: Morten Karlsen
Possession: 47% | Shots: 9 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 2 | Fouls: 11 | Offsides: 2 |
FC TULSA LINEUP:
Michael Creek (GK); Alexis Sovahy (C), Arthur Rogers (Harvey St. Clair 73’), Rashid Tetteh (Bradley Bourgeois 18’), Patrick Seagrist; Boubacar Diallo (Nathan Worth 79’), Blaine Ferri, Milo Yosef, Justin Portillo, Juan Camilo Ponce (Aaron Kacinari 79’); Stefan Stojanovic
Unused subs: Joey Roggeveen (GK), Phillip Goodrum, Alexander Dalou
Head Coach: Mario Sanchez
Possession: 53% | Shots: 15 | Shots On Goal: 6 | Corners: 4 | Fouls: 19 | Offsides: 1 |
Orange County SC vs. FC Tulsa
2024 USL Championship | Matchday 4
Date: March 30, 2024
Venue: Championship Stadium (Irvine, CA)
Weather: Back to Jammin’ Baby 🥳